Lubricant distributor



June 2, 1942. R. G. BRowNsTElN 2,284,799

A LUBRICANT DISTRIBUTOR Filed Sept. 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wn .W .nda NJN .4 mw NAM; wm. r f N- k.

June 2, 1942. R, G, BROWNSTEIN 2,284,799`

LUBRI CANT DI S TRI BUTOR Filed sept. 25, 1941 2 sheets-sheet? Patented June v2, 1942 UNITEDI STAT E S PAT ENT OfFFI-C E LUBRICANT: DISTRIBUTOR Raymond G. Brownstein, Ellwood City, Pa.

Applicationlseptember 25, 1941, Serial No. 412,312

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in lubricating mechanism and pertains more particularly to animproved lubricant meas-` uring and feeding unit.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant feeding. and ,measuring device or unit having an extreme simplicity of construction whereby the same may bereadily made from standard stock items thus making it possible to produce the device at'the lowest possible cost and wherein the device has a ilexibility to serve one or 4two bearings, is of positive operation under full line pressure and does not employ ball checks, springs, cup leathers, or restricted passages;

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a measuring valve of'the character stated which has associated therewith a sight indicator, by means of which it is possible to determine at a glance whether r notl the valve is operating to feed lubricant to a bearing or other unit.

of the structurel-on the line 5-5 of the Fig 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on theline 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig.` 7 is a sectional View taken of theY line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings reference will be rst made to the system lay out shown in Fig. 1 and in which two ofthe units embodying the present invention are connected.

This system comprises a suitable pump P which is here shown as forming an integral part of the lower portion of a lubricant receptacle R. The pump is shown as having a ram orpiston P which is operated by asuitable motor M to eject lubricant or other materialsinto the pipe I! through a check valve I I and t'o a four-way valve which is indicated generally by the numeral I2. rI'his four-way valve I2- has connected therewith the two feed lines I3 and I4` and thereturn line I5 which leads back into the reservoir R.

Still another object of the invention is to Y provide a device of the-character stated which has an adjustable volume discharge, whereby it is possible to vary the amount of lubricant ejected therefrom in accordance with the require-` ment of the bearing or other unit served by the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description ,of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the installation of a pair of the present lubricant distributing and measuring units connected in a system with a control valve, a lubricant reservoir and a pump for moving thelubricant from the reservoir to the distributing unit. Y

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the lubricant distributing and measuring unit embodying the present invention showing the movablek parts thereof at the limit of` their positions in one end of the device.v

Fig. 3 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the initiall movement of the sleeve valve from one eXtreme position to the other and the beginning of movement of the piston.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the piston moved to the extreme position in its path of movement and at the completion ofthe ejection operation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken transversely In the operationof the system when the lubricant under pump pressure goes through thevalve I2 and into one of the feed lines, the other feed line is connected with the exhaust side -oiA the valve and any lubricant pressure in it is relieved into the lubricant container or reservoir.

The four-way valve I2' here illustrated isshown as being designed formanual'control but in actual practice it is contemplated to employ an automatic operating valve which will be controlled in its operation by the pump pressure to continuously reverse its position when it reaches a predetermined pressure setting which will operate all of the lubricators about to be described Any number of lubricators canl be served by the two feed lines I3 and I4. A single lubricator can ,serve two bearings such as are indicated generally by the numerals I5 or both of the outletsfwhich are had by each lubricator can be made to discharge intol a single feed line and the lubricatorv will then only feed one bearing or other device.

The lubricator or lubricant distributing' and measuring unit constituting the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral Il. As is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 this comprises a body I8 of suitable length, through which there is formed longitudinally of the body, the bore or passage I8 which is interiorly threaded at each end as indicated at 20.

Threadably secured in each end of the bore or passage I9 is a valve stop, onel of which is indicated by the numeral 2| While the other is indicated by the numeral 22. As is shown each of these valve stops has two circumferential reductions at its inner end the first and smaller reduction being indicated at 23 while the second' and greater reduction forms a terminal guide 24 upon the inner end of the stop over which an end of the hereinafter described sleeve valve is adaptedto' slip. Each of these terminal guides 24 has a slot or kerf 25 formed transversely of its end. .By the formation of these reductions upon the inner end of each stop there is provided a stop shoulder at the outer end of the guide 24 as indicated at 23 and an area 21 is provided around the rst reduction 23 into which the lubricant is forced.

In addition to the details above set forth which are common to both stops, the stop 22 has an axial passage running therethrough as indicated at 28 which at its outer end is enlarged to receive packing 29. The enlarged outer end of the bore 28 of the stop 22 is threaded to receive a packing nut 30 and this nut also has an axial passage or bore 3| formed therethrough, which is of a diameter corresponding to the smaller diameter of the passage 28.

The packing nut 30 has joined thereto, as shown in Fig. 6, the pair of spaced arms 32, the inner or opposed faces of which are transversely curved on a common radius and are screw threaded so as to receive threadably between them the adjusting screw 33. The space 34 between the arms 32 provide sight openings for the observation of the movement of a piston stem hereinafter described.

The body I8 has two inlet ports 35 and 36 formed therein, which open into the bore I9 each in a space 21 which is between the rst reduction 23 of a stop and the wall of the bore I9. One of these ports is connected by the pipe 31 with the feed line I4 while the other port is connected by the pipe 38 with the feed line I3.

Thereare also formed in the body I8 discharge ports 39 and 40 which open into the bore I9 each adjacent to and inwardly of the inner end of a stop. These discharge ports may be connected, as shown in Fig. l, each by a pipe running to a bearing I6 or other units to be served by the device or, as previously stated, the discharge ports may be coupled to a single pipe to serve one bearing or other units. The pipes leading from the two discharge ports and each connected with a bearing, are indicated by the numeral 4 I.

As previously stated the bore I9 is of constant diameter throughout and there is snugly tted into this bore a valve sleeve 42 which has a constant interior diameter of a dimension to snugly receive in each of its ends the adjacent guide 24. This valve sleeve moves axially in the bore I3 and its movement is limited by Contact of its ends with the shoulders 26 of the opposing stops. As is clearly shown in Figs. :21v to 4 when the sleeve valve 42 is at the limit of its movement in either direction in the bore I9 the ends of both guides will still be within the adjacent ends of the sleeve but the end of one guide will be so nearly out of the sleeve that the two ends of the kerf 25, formed therein, will be uncovered and consequently grease or other material introduced into the bore I9 through the adjacent inlet port, can pass into the interior of the sleeve.

The sleeve 42 is provided with outlet apertures 43 and 44 and each of these apertures opens into a channel formed circumferentially in the outer side of the sleeve, the aperture 43 opening into a channel designated 45 while the aperture 44 opens into channel designated 45. As is shown in Figs. 2 to 4 the channels 45 and 46 are spaced from the adjacent ends of the sleeve 42 at the proper distance to bring them into registry with the outlet ports 39 and 40 respectively as the sleeve is shifted back and forth in the bore I9 between the opposed movement limiting shoulders 26. i

Slidably disposed within the sleeve valve is a Gil piston 41, upon each end of which is a short reduced axial extension 48. 'Ihese extensions come into contact with the slotted reduced inner ends of the stops in the back and forth movement of the piston and there is thus maintained between either end of the piston and the guide 24 with which its reduced extension may be in contact, a space 49 into which grease may enter to start movement of the piston after the sleeve valve has been shifted in the manner hereinafter described.

Fixed to the end of the piston nearest the stop 22, is a stem which passes through the passage 28 in the stop 22, through the packing 29 and through the passage 3| of the packing nut 30. This stem moves in and out between the arms 32 upon back and forth movement of the piston and such in and out movement is limited, and the movement of the piston is correspondingly limited, by the position of the adjusting screw 33 axially of the arms with which it is in threaded engagement.

In the operation of the device the flow of lubricant is as follows. The lubricant is pumped under pressure through the four-way valve I2 into the feed line I4, the sleeve valve 42 and the piston 41 being located in the left hand end of the device or adjacent the stop 2I as illustrated in Fig. 2. Feed line I3 is connected with the exhaust side of the four-way valve and its pressure is relieved. The lubricant flowing through the feed line I4 enters port 35, Fig. 2, under pressure and fills the annular space 21 from where it acts against the end of the sleeve valve 42. Since the pressure behind the sleeve Valve in the annular space 21 at the opposite end is relieved through the port 36, feed line I3 and the four-way valve, the sleeve valve is moved to the right to its position as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the sleeve valve partially uncovers the ends of the slots 25 which is in the guide forming a part of the stop 2I and closes the outlet port 39 which leads to the bearing connected therewith, but opens the outlet port j 40 which has now come into register with the annular channel 46. It also has shut off communication between the interior of itself and the port 36 which leads to feed line I3. The lubricant under pressure then moves through the partially uncovered slot 25, Fig. 3, and against the piston 41, forcing it to the right. As the piston moves to the right the lubricant on its right, that has been left there by the preceding operation, is forced through the apertures 44, into the annular groove 43 and through the outlet port 40 into the bearing which is connected with this port by the pipe 4I. 'Ihe flow of lubricant to the bearing continues until the piston 41 strikes against the inner end of the guide of the stop 22 as shown in Fig. 4, and has thus completed its full stroke. If a partial stroke of the piston is desired then the adjusting screw 33 is moved inwardly and the outer end of the piston stem strikes this screw to limit the movement of the piston under the pressure of the incoming grease at its opposite side.

When the piston 41 has completed its stroke in all of the lubricators and the four-way valve has reversed or has been manually reversed, then the cycle for lubricating the other bearing is performed in a similar manner as to that just described but with all of the conditions reversed as will be readily understood. In other words the sleeve valve 42 and the piston 41 are now in the right hand end of the lubricator and consequently, upon reversal of the four-way valve l2, the grease under pressure will pass through the feed line I3 and in through the port 36 into the annular recess 21 adjacent the port 36 so as to shift the sleeve valve back to its former left hand position or in other words into the left hand end of the bore I9. This will result in the closing of the outlet port 40 and the opening of the port 39 as shown in Fig. 2 and will also bring about the uncovering, by the sleeve valve 42, of the slot 25 in the inner end of thestop 22 thus allowing the grease to enter into the sleeve valve behind the piston 4l. The entering grease will then force the piston 4l back to the left and the grease left upon'the left hand side of the piston by the preceding operation will be ejected through the port 39 and to the bearing connected therewith.

As will, of course, be readily understood, if the piston in making its right hand stroke went to the limit i its movement within the sleeve valve or, in other words, until it was stopped by engagement with the stop 22, then it will make a full stroke to the left until it is stopped by the inner end of the stop 2i. However if the adjusting screw 33 had been set in so that the righthand movement was limited by engagement of the stein 5S with the screw 33 it will be obvious that although the piston will move all the way back until it is stopped by contact with the stop 2i still theamount of grease ejected will be less than would have been the case if the piston had gone to the right until it was stopped by the stop 22. In other words if the adjusting screw is set in to cut down the amount of grease ejected by one-half whenV the piston moves to the right then the same reduction in quantity of grease ejected will be effected when the piston moves to the left.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the lubricator device herein disclosed is` of such design that it may be easily and economically produced from standard stock items and that the feeding of lubricants is positive and the failure of the device to operate can be readily detected by a lack of movement of the stem 50 which is connected with the piston li'l. While reference has been continuously made to lubricant and grease in connection with this device it is of course to be understood that it is capable of handling other fluid or semi-fluid substances. It will also be apparent that the lubricator device can be made in single blocks to serve one or two bearings or a number of assemblies can be comprised in one block vto serve two, four, six, eight or more bearings from one block.

All wearing parts are machined and iit to very close tolerances so that they will be self sealing. As shown the valve stops 2| and 22 have a metal to metal fit with the lubricator body I8 on the straight part and a beveled shoulder to insure concentricity and axial alignment with the lubricator body and sleeve valve.

As previously stated the valve stops are made so that the sleevevalve never runs off of the guide, which makes for smooth positive action. IThe sleeve valve is lapped into the bore I9 of the lubricator body and the piston and valve stop guidesA 2li arelapped into the sleeve valve making these fits self-sealing.

What is claimed is:

1. A lubricant distributor comprising a body having a bore extending therethrough and of constant diameter throughout, said bore opening at itsend to opposite sides of the body, a stop member removably secured in each end of the bore,each stop member being of reduced diameter through a portion of its length at its inner end to form with the bore a circular area and providing a stop shoulder, an inlet port opening into the bore into each of said circular areas, a sleeve valve slidably disposed in the bore and limited in its axial movement therein by contact of its ends with said shoulders, a pair of outlet ports for the bore each leading therefrom from a position inwardly of but adjacent to a shoulder, said sleeve having a pair of wall apertures arranged to register with Van outlet when the adjacent end of the sleeve is in contact with a shoulder, said sleeve when in contact at either end with the adjacent shoulder being closed by that shoulder and being open at its opposite end, a piston freely movable lengthwise within the sleeve, and means for stopping the lengthwise movement of the piston short of the ends of the sleeve.

2. A lubricant distributor comprising a body `having a bore therethrough and opening at its ends through opposite sides of the body, a stop secured in each end of the bore and having at its inner end a portion of reduced diameter forming with the wall of the bore a circular area, each stop having at its inner end an axial extension of a diameter smaller than the said reduced portion of the stop and forming a guide, there being an annular shoulder at the outer end of each guide, each guide having a slot formed across its inner end, an inlet port leading into each end of the bore into a circular area, a sleeve valve having an overall length less than the distance between said shoulders and slidably nttedin the bore, said sleeve having said guides slidably engaged in its ends, theslot of one guide being uncovered by the adjacent end of the sleeve when the other end of the sleeve is in contact with a shoulder, a pair of outlets for the bore, a pair of longitudinally spaced openings in the wall of the sleeve arranged to have one in communication with the outlet when the adjacent end of the sleeve is in contact with a shoulder, and a piston in the sleeve having free movement between the sleeve valve discharge openings.

f 3. A lubricator comprising a body having a bore therethrough, an inlet port leading into the bore adjacent each end, an outlet for the bore adjacent each inlet and disposed inwardly of the inlet, a sleeve axially movable in the bore and having Ylongitudinally spaced wall apertures for alternate registry with the outlets, an element extending axially in each end of the bore for stopping the axial movement of the sleeve toward the ends of the bore short of a covering relation with the inlets, means operating to fully close one end of the sleeve when the said end is in stopping engagement with said elementand to open the other end of the sleeve to communication with the adjacent inlet, a piston in and having free movement axially of the sleeve between said means, the sleeve aperture nearest the closed end of the sleeve being in registry with an outlet upon the side of the piston nearest said closed end after said end has become fully closed, the said sleeve end closing means being adapted to enter the end of the sleeve and function as a guide therefor.

RAYMOND G. BROWNSTEIN. 

